Favourite Hong Kong restaurants of marketing and communications director Amanda Cheung – from assam laksa to Sichuan noodles
Former journalist Cheung’s southeast Asian parents exposed her to a variety of cuisines at an early stage and that set her on the path to enjoying some great food experiences. Here are her top venues in the city
Former journalist Amanda Cheung now works as a director of marketing and communications in the property industry.
My southeast Asian parents exposed me to a variety of cuisines very early on. Some of my fondest childhood memories involve getting Indonesian takeout for my dad and going for Indian meals.
Sai Kung bakery owner on her go-to Hong Kong restaurants
I love strong flavours and seafood. My favourite dish is assam laksa. I just went on a five-day trip to Penang where I had it for lunch and dinner every day. Cafe Malacca (Level 2, Hotel Jen, 508 Queen’s Road West, Western District, tel: 2213 6613) is the only decent Malaysian restaurant in town.
I have two children under eight so we love Eat.It (9 Kingston Street, Fashion Walk, Causeway Bay, tel: 2489 8822) for easy family dinners. The kids love their margherita pizza and spaghetti carbonara.
Kishoku (5/F, Zing!, 38 Yiu Wa Street, Causeway Bay, tel: 2893 0333) does an excellent value sushi set that is served piece by piece to you if you sit at the counter. It’s great for an intimate lunch and the fish is unbeatable for freshness.
I love taking visitors to the calm ambience and stunning views of Hong Kong at Cafe Gray Deluxe (L49, The Upper House, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, tel: 3968 1106). They do really great breakfasts that make me feel healthy.
For Chinese, I like introducing people to Peking Garden (various locations including Shop B1, Alexandra House, 16-20 Chater Road, Central, tel: 2526 6456) for their mapo tofu and Peking duck. I’m also a fan of the Peking duck at Sha Tin 18 (4/F, Hyatt Regency Hong Kong Sha Tin, 18 Chak Cheung Street, Sha Tin, tel: 3723 7932).
For more inventive Chinese, out-of-towners always love the decor and cocktails at Mott 32 (Basement, Standard Chartered Bank Building, 4-4A Des Voeux Road Central, Central, tel: 2885 8688), as well as the lobster mapo tofu.
For a nice treat, Ronin (8 On Wo Lane, Sheung Wan, tel: 2547 5263) is consistently great with fresh ingredients and flavours, and great cocktails and staff. Their Japanese-rooted menu is always a hit with my husband and I.
Where theatre producer took Roger Taylor for lunch in Hong Kong
Close by, I also like Beet (6-10 Kau U Fong, Central, tel: 2824 3898). The food reminds me of some of the Copenhagen restaurants that I love.
My guilty pleasure can be found at a small shop called Barchua House (Pak Ling Building, 368 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai, tel: 2574 6222). My family has dubbed it “cockroach noodles” after finding a small one in our soup but that hasn’t deterred me. I love their Sichuan potato noodles with mala soup base and pork chop. I often go alone and listen to podcasts.
One place I want to also mention is Moh Teng Pheow in Penang (Jalan Masjid (off Lebua Chulia), George Town, Penang, Malaysia, tel: +61 04 261 5832). They serve a mouth-watering selection of home-made Nyonya kuih and assam laksa. They have no air-con but it is in a lovely old shop house with an exposed kitchen where you can watch the ladies make the kuih.
